A recent Mechatronics Engineering graduate with mechanical, electrical and software problem solving skills. I am currently working at MainPower as a Graduate Network Engineer looking into the use cases for artificial intelligence to improve efficiency and data analytics.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with side projects such as 3D printing, IoT devices and keeping active in the outdoors.
Contact Email: blake.ac.harkness@gmail.com
AI for CNC Quality Control - Individual
Demonstrated Skills: Data Preparation and Preprocessing, Python, Model Selection, TensorFlow/Keras, Image Processing and Computer Vision
Automated CNC machines require a human eye to ensure machined parts have no defects
Using AI machine learning models the human intervention can be prevented increasing accuracy and decreasing cost
Split the data into three groups: 70% for training, 20% validation and 10% testing.
Use a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), which is particularly good at image pattern recognition.
Tweaked input parameters to optimised the accuracy of the model.
Reached 100% accuracy after 10 epochs on training dataset
Chemical Wash Dilution Detection - Group Project
Demonstrated Skills: C Microcontroller Programming, Debugging and Troubleshooting, Serial and Bluetooth Communication, Hardware Testing, Teamwork and Communication
Some farmers are incorrectly mixing their wash chemicals causing contaminated milk
Design a sensing system that sits on farm to monitor dilution levels during wash
Carried out research on existing methods and products
Tested a range of sensors, deciding on a mix of Conductivity and pH for accuracy and durability
Wrote C firmware for an ESP32-Wroom to read sensor data and report via Bluetooth
Met the majority of stakeholder criteria
Was able to display +-0.5pH readings
Embedded System Hardware Testing - Pair Project
Demonstrated Skills: C Microcontroller Programming, Debugging and Troubleshooting, Serial Communication, Hardware Testing, Teamwork and Communication
Designed firmware to test hardware components on an embedded system PCB
Used serial commands to instruct the micro on which component to test
Created a project flow diagram to outline key processes before implementation
Included tests for the LCD screen, LEDS, Buttons, Dip Switches, Potentiometers and the PWM output
Used the serial line to send commands for different test modes
Meet marking requirements ensuring each piece of hardware was fully tested and functional
Graded A+
Self Navigating Vacuum Cleaner - Group Project
Demonstrated Skills: Mobile App Development, Object Oriented Programming, C Microcontroller Programming, UI Design, PCB Design, Teamwork, Leadership and Communication
Designed and built an autonomous self navigating vacuum cleaner
Stayed within a $500 project hardware budget
Implemented a 360° LiDAR and ultrasonic distance detectors for obstacle avoidance and mapping
Used two stepper motors with PID control for accurate movement
Developed a mobile application that communicates via Bluetooth for control and data transfer
Designed a PCB to hold the ESP32 WROOM and easier wiring connections
PID control allowed the system to move in a straight line and accurately turn corners
LiDAR enabled full obstacle avoidance as well as room mapping inside the mobile app
Mobile app contained user joystick control, automatic navigation and room mapping
C++ Checkers with AI Opponent - Individual Project
Demonstrated Skills: Object Oriented Programming, C++, Game Design, Minmax algorithm, User input and interfacing
Designed a C++ console UI 4x4 checkers game
Created an AI opponents with varying difficulty
Created a 2 player mode
Used OOP with classes to represent the position, game state and potential moves
Created two AI's, one choosing a random available move. The other using a minmax depth search with Alpha Beta pruning for optimal move selection
UI updates based on game state, user enters move in form "A2-B3"
Met UI and AI requirements with games easily being played
Advanced AI is unbeatable, either resulting in a draw or a win
Sandwich Press CAD Model - Individual Project
Demonstrated Skills: Solidworks, CAD, Technical Drawings
Replicated a household appliance in Solidworks containing over 5 parts
Generated 3D renders of the appliance
Used Solidworks to model each part of the appliance
Created technical drawings for each part
Setup 3D renders inside of Solidworks
Meet the project scope with a replicated toasted sandwich press, technical drawings and a 3D render
Coil Winder - Group Project
Demonstrated Skills: Microcontroller programming, Sensor Interfacing, Motor Control, CAD design, Solidworks, PCB Design, Laser Cutting, Team Work and Communication
Designed and built an automated coil winding machine
Required 500 full rotations of wire per bobbin a user interface for editing number of turns and bobbin size and an emergency stop feature
Used two stepper motors to feed coil onto the spinning bobbin and a pneumatic press to cut wire
Integrated a 16x2 LCD and 4x4 Keypad for the user interface
Designed a PCB to simplify routing of electrical wires
Wrote firmware for two Arduino Nanos for controlling the entire system
Meet requirements in ability to wind wire around different sized bobbins
Functioning user interface to control coil winding process
Temperature Sensing RC Boat - Group Project
Demonstrated Skills: Microcontroller programming, Sensor Interfacing, Motor Control, CAD design, Solidworks, Laser Cutting, Team Work and Communication
Modified an existing RC boat to measure temperature at the bottom of a pool
Completed a timed race against other boats to compare speed an temperature reading accuracy
Implemented a stepper motor to control a winch to drop the temperature sensor into the water
Used an Arduino Nano microcontroller to operate the winch, read the temperature sensor based off the RC commands
Completed the requirements of measuring the pools temperature based off RC control
Awarded the fastest and most accurate boat
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) - Individual
Demonstrated Skills: Solidworks, Research, Finite Element Analysis, Simulation
Metal hip joints are becoming more common for those aging which helps improve their mobility.
Having a artificial joint fail can be very problematic for the individual so proper stress and strain testing is crucial
Setup the Solidworks part in simulation
Drew the typical testing force based on research articles
Determined sections of the design that are not crucial to its strength
Learned simulation techniques for various forces on angles
